FROM UNUSABLE TO USEFUL

Week 44 (1st Sunday) Communion Sunday

This Week’s Theme: When Your Actions Cause an Interruption

Word for the Week is Redeem: To buy back, deliver, or set free by paying a price. Biblically, redemption refers to God’s act of rescuing His people from bondage—whether from slavery, sin, or death—through a substitutionary payment.

Memory verse: Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Sermon Focus: God can redeem our mistakes 

Sermon Passage: Exodus 2:11-22; 3:5-10

Exodus 2:11–12 NKJV

11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Title: FROM UNUSABLE TO USEFUL

I. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CARNALITY

LOOK AT VERSES 11-12 

Exodus 2:11–12 NKJV

11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

WHEN GROWN, MOSES WENT OUT TO HIS BRETHREN AND SAW THEIR BURDENS 

HE SAW AN EGYPTIAN BEATING A HEBREW BROTHER 

HE SAW AN INJUSTICE 

HE SAW AN UNJUST ACT 

AND HE RESPONDED WITH VIOLENCE 

FOR THE ASSAULT, MOSES ASSASSINATED 

FOR THE STRIKES, MOSES SNUFFED HIM OUT   

FOR THE THRESHING, MOSES TERMINATED HIS LIFE 

HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING 

HE NEEDED TO STAND FOR HIS BROTHER 

HE NEEDED TO DEFEND HIS PEOPLE  

HE NEEDED TO ACT 

HE THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD BE A HERO 

EVEN STEPHEN SAID IN ACTS 7:25

Acts 7:25 NKJV

25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

BUT THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED 

LOOK AT VERSES 13 AND 14

Exodus 2:13–14 NKJV

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14 Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!”

INSTEAD OF BEING SEEN AS A DELIVERER

HE WAS ASKED

“DO YOU INTEND TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN?”

MOSES THOUGHT THAT HIS ACTIONS WERE NOT KNOWN 

HE THOUGHT HE COULD BE THE CAPE CRUSADER

THE RIGHTEOUS RENEGADE 

THE REBEL REFORMER  

THE ANONYMOUS AVENGER 

BUT “SURELY THE THING WAS KNOWN!”

INSTEAD OF 

COMPLIMENTS HE RECEIVED CRITICISM 

INSTEAD OF 

CHEERS HE RECEIVED CONDEMNATION

LISTEN TO THE NEXT QUESTION GIVEN TO MOSES 

“WHO MADE YOU A PRINCE AND A JUDGE OVER US?”

DID MOSES SEE THE WRONG CORRECTLY? YES! 

DID MOSES SEE THE INJUSTICES CORRECTLY? YES! 

DID MOSES HANDLE THEM THE WAY GOD INTENDED? NO!

MOSES BECAME THE JUDGE, THE JURY, AND THE EXECUTIONER 

MOSES DID NOT TRUST IN GOD’S TIMING TO DELIVER 

HE DID NOT TRUST IN GOD’S WISDOM IN HANDLING THE SITUATION

HE WAS MOVED BY HIS EMOTIONS 

YES, HE WAS WELL-INTENTIONED 

YET,

HE HANDLED THE PROBLEM THE WRONG WAY 

LISTEN SAINTS

FEELING DEEPLY ABOUT SOMETHING 

DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT

Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man…”

PETER FELT DEEPLY ABOUT CHRIST NOT DYING ON THE CROSS 

YET, 

HIS PASSIONS DID NOT LINE UP WITH GOD’S PURPOSE

HIS LOVE FOR CHRIST WAS NOT IN LINE WITH GOD’S LAW 

HIS CARE WAS NOT IN LINE WITH GOD’S COMMAND

JESUS HAD TO SAY ““Get thee behind me, Satan…”

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS YOU CAN HAVE ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE (Romans 10:2)

DON’T YOU SEE IT?

MOSES WRONGLY ADDRESSED THE OPPRESSION HE WITNESSED 

BECAUSE HE DID NOT SEEK DIVINE GUIDANCE 

MOSES MISHANDLED JUSTICE AND COMPASSION 

BECAUSE HE TOOK MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS 

WHAT ABOUT YOU? 

ARE YOU ACTING IMPULSIVELY

RATHER THAN PRAYERFULLY 

DON’T BE MOVED BY YOUR HEART

BUT BE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

STOP FOCUSING ON COMFORT

RATHER THAN CONFORMING TO CHRIST 

YOU SEE YOU CAN’T BE 

ROOTED IN YOUR EMOTIONS 

YOU NEED TO BE 

ROOTED IN GOD’S WORD

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

DON’T FOLLOW YOUR HEART 

BECAUSE YOU 

MAY PLEASE YOURSELF OR OTHERS 

AND 

FAIL TO PLEASE GOD 

WHEN OUR EMOTIONS DIRECT US

DISCERNMENT DISAPPEARS FROM US 

SOME CHRISTIANS TODAY

HAVE A CARNAL MINDSET

BELIEVING LIKE MOSES

THAT THEY SUPPOSED TO FIGHT BACK 

THEIR CARNALITY SHOWS IN THEIR WORDS 

WHEN THEY SAY THAT “YOU ARE MESSING WITH THE WRONG SOMEBODY!”

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

ARE YOU LOOKING TO TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?

YOU ARE NOT OBEYING GOD’S WORD  

REMEMBER JESUS SAID IN Luke 6:27-28 

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES 

DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU 

BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU 

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU 

PAUL ALSO SAID IN Romans 12:14 

BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU 

BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE

IN VERSE 17 PAUL ALSO SAID 

REPAY NO EVIL FOR EVIL

IN 12:19 PAUL SAID 

DO NOT AVENGE YOURSELVES

BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE TO WRATH 

VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD 

CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS 

PEACEMAKERS ARE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD

SOME CHRISTIANS TODAY HAVE THE MINDSET

THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESIST AND OPPOSE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES 

WHETHER IT IS

THE POLICE OR

ELECTED OFFICIALS

OR SCHOOL TEACHERS 

THEY FEEL JUSTIFIED IN THESE UNCHRISTIAN ACTIONS 

MY BROTHER, MY SISTER IS THIS YOU?

ARE YOU OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE WORD,

WHICH SAYS IN Romans 13:1-2  

Romans 13:1–2 NKJV

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? 

DO YOU ACT BEFORE YOU ASK GOD? 

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CARNALITY 

DO YOU RESPOND BEFORE REFERENCING THE WORD

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CARNAL MINDSET

DO YOU PLAN AND THEN PRAY?

OR 

DO YOU PRAY AND THEN PLAN?

YOU CAN’T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM 

YOU NEED TO CONFESS YOUR SINS 

THEN

FORGIVENESS COMES 

AND THEN

CLEANSING COMES 

PLEASE DON’T LET NO ONE

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CARNALITY 

AND (NEXT POINT)

II. ALLOW GOD’S CONFORMING

BECAUSE OF HIS CARNALITY 

MOSES NEEDED TO BE FIXED 

HE NEEDED TO BE MOLDED INTO

THE MAN GOD WANTED HIM TO BE 

MOSES WAS NOT READY!

GOD NEEDED TO PREPARE HIM BEFORE HE COME USE HIM!

SO GOD MOVED HIM TO THE LAND OF MIDIAN 

HE ENDS UP AT REUEL’S OR JETHRO’S HOME 

MOSES CAME TO LIVE WITH THEM, MARRYING ONE OF JETHRO’S DAUGHTERS

ZIPPORAH

ACCORDING TO VERSE 22 

SHE BORE HIM A SON 

AND IN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1, WE LEARN THAT MOSES BECAME A SHEPHERD 

HE WAS A PRINCE BUT

NOW

HE FOUND HIMSELF LIVING THE LIFE OF A SHEPHERD 

WHY? 

MOSES NEEDED CONFORMING 

HE NEEDED TO MOLDED BY GOD

NOW LET’S BE CLEAR

MOSES HAD SOME REDEEMABLE QUALITIES 

LET’S LOOK AT VERSES 16 AND 17 OF CHAPTER 2

Exodus 2:16–17 NKJV

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

DON’T MISS IT!

MOSES DID NOT KNOW THESE WOMEN 

YET, HE STOOD UP FOR THEM 

HE HELPED THEM BY DRAWING ENOUGH WATER FOR THEIR FLOCK 

HE HAD NO PROBLEM HELPING THOSE IN NEED 

IT SEEMS THAT HE HAD A DESIRE TO DO SO 

HE ALSO HAD AN INNER SINCE OF WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WRONG

ALTHOUGH HE HAD SOME REDEEMABLE QUALITIES 

MOSES WAS NOT READY!

MOSES WAS EDUCATED

IN EGYPT HE LEARNED ABOUT  

ADMINISTRATION 

HE WAS NOT READY!

IN EGYPT HE LEARNED

HOW TO WRITE 

HE WAS NOT READY!

HE LEARNED ABOUT LEADERSHIP 

AND STRUCTURE

YET,

HE WAS NOT READY FOR ALL THAT GOD WANTED 

IN EGYPT, MOSES OBSERVED

HOW NATIONS ARE LED 

HOW ARMIES ARE COMMANDED 

HOW PROJECTS ARE ACCOMPLISHED 

YET, HE WAS NOT READY 

GOD NEEDED TO MOVE HIM FROM 

THE PALACE TO THE PASTURE 

GOD MOVED HIM FROM A PRINCE TO A SHEPHERD 

TO TEACH HIM 

GOD USED THE PASTURE TO TEACH HIM HUMILITY 

IN THE PALACE HE ACTED OUT OF PRIDE AND POSITION 

BUT IN THE PASTURE, HIS SELF-IMPORTANCE WAS REMOVE

HE LEARNED THAT IT WAS NOT ABOUT HIM . 

SAINTS, IS THE LORD TRYING TO MAKE YOU MEEK AND HUMBLE?

HAS HE PUT YOU IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT THE CENTER OF ATTENTION?

LISTEN,

BEFORE GOD CAN USE YOU PUBLICLY HE MUST HUMBLE YOU PRIVATELY!

YOU MAY NOT BE ALL BAD 

BUT YOU ARE NOT ALL GOOD EITHER 

GOD WANTS TO CONFORM YOU!

GOD ALSO USED THE PASTURE TO TEACH HIM PATIENCE

IN EGYPT HE WAS IMPULSIVE 

IN EGYPT HE WAS MOVE BY HIS EMOTIONS

HE WANTED INSTANT CHANGE 

HE WAS NOT PATIENCE 

BUT IN THE PASTURE, GOD USED SHEEP TO TEACH HIM 

HOW TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE 

SLOWLY, GENTLY, AND PERSISTENTLY

GOD TAUGHT HIM TO WAIT ON HIS TIMING  

ARE YOU ANXIOUS? YOU CAN’T WAIT 

YOU FIND YOURSELF IN LONG LINES A LOT 

YOU FIND YOURSELF HAVING TO WAIT ON OTHERS 

YOU FIND YOURSELF HAVING TO MOVE SLOWER THAN YOU WANT

CONSIDER THAT GOD IS TRAINING YOU TO WAIT 

TRAINING YOU TO WAIT ON HIS TIMING 

BECAUSE 

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

GOD ALSO USE THE PASTURE TO TEACH HIM TO HEAR AND OBEY

IN EGYPT HE ACTED WITHOUT THINKING 

IN EGYPT HE DID NOT LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE 

HE LISTENED TO THE DICTATES OF HIS OWN HEART 

MOSES NEEDED TO BE MOVED FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTRY SO HE COULD HEAR. 

CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD? 

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO READ AND STUDY GOD’S WORD?

ARE YOU OBEDIENT TO HIS COMMANDS

AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH LIFE? 

ARE YOU MAKING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WHO MAKE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST? 

IN EGYPT, MOSES HAD A SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG BUT IT WAS NOT GUIDED BY GOD’S WORD

BUT THROUGH GOD’S MOLDING AND MAKING IN MIDIAN 

USING THE SHEEP, 

HE LEARNED COMPASSION NOT CONDEMNATION 

HE LEARNED CARE NOT CHASTISEMENT

HE LEARNED RESTORATION NOT RETALIATION 

HE LEARNED FORGIVENESS NOT FORGET YOU

HE LEARNED TO BE A SERVANT LEADER AND NOT A MASTER RULER

HAVE YOU LEARNED 

OR RATHER 

ARE YOU LEARNING? 

ARE YOU ALLOWING GOD TO SHAPE YOU

TO CONFORM YOU 

TO MOLD YOU? 

HAVE YOU LET GO AND LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY IN YOUR LIFE

HAVE YOU SAID NOT MY WILL BUT GOD’S WILL BE DONE?

HAVE YOU SAID LIKE DAVID 

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART 

AND RENEW IN ME A RIGHT SPIRIT 

ALLOW GOD TO WORK ON YOU 

DON’T QUENCH THE SPIRIT OF GOD 

DON’T GRIEVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD 

LET HIS WORD WORK IN YOUR LIFE 

HOW CAN A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY?

FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CARNALITY 

SECOND ALLOW GOD TO CONFORM YOU TO HIS IMAGE

THIRD,

III. ACCEPT GOD’S COMMISSION

GOD CAN NOW GET MOSES ATTENTION 

NOW THAT  

HE COULD OBEY - REMOVED HIS SANDALS 

HE COULD 

Exodus 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

GOD IS AWARE 

GOD IS LETTING MOSES KNOW THAT HE TOO 

SAW THE INJUSTICES TO HIS PEOPLE 

LOOK AT VERSE 7

Exodus 3:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

I HAVE SEEN - 

I HAVE HEARD -

I KNOW THEIR SORROWS 

DO YOU SEE IT? 

GOD IS TELLING MOSES THAT HE TOO WAS AWARE OF HIS PEOPLE’S PREDICAMENT 

THEIR AFFLICTION 

THEIR SUFFERING 

THEIR PAIN 

NOW LOOK AT VERSE 9

Exodus 3:9 NKJV

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

THEIR CRY HAS COME TO ME 

I HAVE SEEN THE OPPRESSION 

I HAVE COME DOWN TO DELIVER 

COME NOW AND I WILL SEND YOU 

GOD TAKES ACTION 

LOOK AT VERSE 8

Exodus 3:8 NKJV

8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

LOOK AT VERSE 10

Exodus 3:10 NKJV

10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

GOD OFFERED MOSES A JOB 

AT FIRST MOSES TIRED TO DELIVER WITHOUT BEING PREPARED 

BUT 

NOW THAT MOSES HAS BEEN TRAINED IN PASTORAL LEADERSHIP 

NOW THAT HE HAS GONE THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF SUBMISSION

NOW THAT HIS EARS ARE CLEAR 

AND HIS EYES CAN SEE CLEARLY 

NOW THAT THE TIMING IS RIGHT 

GOD SAYS I WILL SEND YOU TO PHARAOH 

NOW HE IS READY!

IN EGYPT HE RELIED ON HIS EMOTIONS 

BUT NOW HE LEARNED TO RELY ON GOD

HE’S READY!

IN EGYPT HE RELIED ON HIS POWER 

BUT NOW HE RELIED ON GOD’S PRESENCE

IN EGYPT HIS GOAL WAS TO CONTROL 

BUT NOW HE LEARNED TO CARE AND TRANSFORM

IN EGYPT HIS GOAL WAS  PERSONAL GLORY

BUT NOW HE LEARNED TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY

IN EGYPT HE OPERATED BY PRIDE 

BUT NOW HE LEARNED TO OPERATE BY MEEKNESS

NOW HE IS USABLE!

NOW HE IS USEFUL!

APPLICATION:

GOD THROUGH CHRIST 

CAN MOVE YOU

FROM UNUSABLE TO USABLE 

FROM FLAWED TO FIT 

FROM FAULTY TO FUNCTIONING 

YOU FAILED BUT GOD THROUGH CHRIST CAN CONFORM YOU  

SO THAT YOU CAN FULFILL HIS WILL 

YES, YOU MESSED UP! 

BUT CHRIST CAN MAKE YOU OVER AGAIN 

YES YOU HAVE HAD 

COMPASSION WITHOUT CONVICTION

SINCERITY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD

PASSION WITHOUT PURPOSE

MERCY WITHOUT A MANDATE FROM GOD

CARE WITHOUT CALLING FROM GOD

BUT NOW YOU CAN GO 

WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD 

THE POWER OF GOD 

NOW YOU CAN GO 

WITH HIS AGENDA 

AND 

WITH HIS AUTHORITY 

NOW YOU 

WORK THE WORK OF HIM THAT SENT YOU 

NOW YOUR 

MEAT IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT YOU 

NOW YOU 

MUST WORK WHILE IT IS DAY WHEN THE NIGHT COMES 

NO MAN CAN WORK. 

ACCEPT GOD’S COMMISSION 

SAY YES TO THE LORD 

SAY YES TO HIS WILL 

SAY YES TO HIS WAY 

SAY YES TO HIS WORD 

SAY YES 

SAY LIKE ISAIAH 

HERE AM I LORD SEND ME 

SAY LIKE THE SONG WRITER 

IF THE LORD WANTS SOMEBODY 

HERE AM I LORD 

TELL HIM I’LL GO IF I HAVE TO GO ALL BY MYSELF

BECAUSE WHEN MAN WAS AT HIS WITS END 

WHEN SIN HAD SEPARATED HIM FROM GOD 

WHEN SIN HAD BROUGHT DEATH TO THE WORLD 

GOD COMMISSION THE SEED OF THE WOMAN 

GOD COMMISSIONED THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

GOD COMMISSIONED THE SON OF DAVID 

GOD COMMISSIONED THE ANOINTED ONE, THE MESSIAH, THE CHRIST 

AND WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. 

SAID YES AND CAME THROUGH 42 GENERATIONS 

THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER 

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 

THE BREAD OF LIFE 

AND THE WATER OF LIFE 

CAME TO GIVE HIS LIFE THAT I MAY LIVE